New York beneath the night sky was a city that never slept.
The winding streams of traffic resembled rivers of flowing lights. Countless cars weaved between highways and overpasses, like the bones and veins of this steel jungle, pulsing with vigorous life and vitality.
A police car bearing the NYPD logo sped along like a fish darting through dense traffic. The officer inside had just received a report claiming that a violent incident had occurred at the Baxter Building, where a metal monster had attacked Reed Richards in full view of the public.
The patrol officer had heard that name before. Richards was one of the members of the recently popular up-and-coming superhero group, and supposedly had an unusually intimate relationship with the hot-bodied Invisible Woman, Susan.
What an enviable guy, the officer sighed inwardly.
Among the group New York residents called the "Fantastic Four," the beautiful, hot-bodied Invisible Woman was the most popular rising star. The other three were roughly equally well regarded. What surprised people most was that Ben, the bulky Thing, had earned quite a reputation as well. He had bravely saved a fire truck that nearly fell into the river on the Brooklyn Bridge, and news reporters had captured the scene, winning him the goodwill of many.
As the police car passed Lexington Avenue, a massive figure flew out of a truck parked ahead like a cannonball and crashed heavily onto the hood. The sudden turn of events made the officer slam on the brakes, the tires screeching against the road.
The enormous, Thing-like figure smashed through the windshield, shook his head, and jumped straight off the car. He even gave the stunned officer an apologetic look.
From the truck blocking the middle of the street, a tall figure in a black hooded trench coat and